Toss game target apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to play a projectile toss game having at least one side, but can have a plurality of sides that allows multiple users to play the game simultaneously and also having various sized holes with pockets that allow for a number of different games to be played.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus designed for use in playing a target projectile toss game.

Description of Related Art

There is an array of projectile toss games currently on the market. Examples include Cornhole, ladder toss, golf chip, and beer pong. In each of these games, the users play by tossing a projectile towards one or more game targets with the object of getting the projectile into the supporting apparatus. Usual targets are a cup or a hole in the apparatus. A number of different projectiles are utilized including golf balls, ping pong balls, a bean bag, or the like.

A drawback of current toss games is that there is only one side of the apparatus that can be played with at one time. For example, in the case of Cornhole, there needs to be 2 boards positioned in spaced relationship from one another in order for two or more people to play. That's because they are designed to be played from a single angle. Some games are like skee-ball, in that if you miss one hole, your projectile will land in the next lowest one. That takes some of the skill out of the game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new toss game target apparatus which allows the users to play from a plurality of sides simultaneously. It also eliminates the requirement to have multiple apparatuses to play.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile comprising:

-   -   a) a vertical upright frame having at least 1 side and a top;     -   b) a plurality of vertically positioned holes on at least 1 side         of the upright frame, wherein the holes are large enough to         accept the tossed projectile; and     -   c) at least one horizontally positioned hole on the top of the         upright frame, wherein the hole is large enough to accept the         tossed projectile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two sides of an embodiment, having four sides total of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a hole with a mesh pocket of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a see-through perspective view of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shown without holes and showing four sides of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

Definitions

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or”, as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein, the term “toss game target apparatus” refers to a throwing (tossing) game where individuals or teams toss a projectile (e.g., a ball, a bean bag, or the like) at a target hole, wherein points are accumulated based on the success of the projectile going into the target hole. The prior art toss game apparatus uses an approach, wherein the face is angled at 45 to 75 degrees from vertical. In the present application, the apparatus is a frame containing holes (made of wood, plastic, metal, and the like). In one embodiment, it is multi-sided. Multi-sided refers to at least 2 sides including the side and top. In one embodiment, there are 4 sides. In another embodiment, a circular or oval apparatus is considered multi-sided. The apparatus has at least 1 side, wherein there are a plurality of vertically positioned (above each other on a side) holes; however, there must also be a top hole. The holes can be round, oval, or the like, and of a size to accept the projectile being thrown at the apparatus. The sides of the apparatus are tilted back and range from vertical (zero degrees) to about 35 degrees. In addition to the side holes, there is a single horizontally positioned hole on the top platform of the apparatus similar to the side holes that will accommodate the projectile. The holes can be different sizes to vary the difficulty in tossing the projectile into the hole. The holes can have a pocket to catch the projectile.

As used herein, the term “tossed projectile” refers to a ball, a bean bag, or the like, used with a toss game apparatus. The projectile needs to be of a size that can be tossed into each hole in the apparatus. In one embodiment, it refers to throwing the projectile by hand, or kicking. In another embodiment, the projectile is tossed using a device (e.g., golf club, racket, etc.).

As used herein, the term “vertical upright multi-sided frame” refers to an apparatus for use in a projectile toss game, wherein the sides are tilted back and range from vertical (zero degrees) to about 25 degrees back (towards the device).

As used herein, the term “4 sides” refers to the apparatus being multi-sided having 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more sides. In one embodiment, there are between 4 and 6 sides to the apparatus. Each side allows a player to play from a different position, thus allowing 2 or more people/teams to play without a need for multiple apparatuses. In one embodiment, there is 1 vertical side and a horizontal top.

As used herein, the term “vertically positioned holes” refers to the holes on any given side to be positioned on top of the hole, below it, or beneath a hole, such as shown in the figures. There are at least 2 vertically positioned holes on any side that has holes. The holes can be any shape such as circular, oval, polygonal, and the like. In one embodiment, there are 3 vertically positioned holes on any side having holes.

As used herein, the term “holes on at least 1 side” refers to the fact that while there may be more than one side, the minimum requirement is only one side, having the plurality of holes. In one embodiment, there is a plurality of holes on multiple sides.

As used herein, the term “large enough” refers to the plurality of holes being of a sufficient size that whatever projectile is chosen, it will fit through the hole when correctly tossed by a user. The larger the hole, the easier to toss a projectile into it.

As used herein, the term “hole on top” refers to at least one horizontal hole on a top portion of the toss game target apparatus. Once again, it has to be of a sufficient size to be able to accept a projectile, similar to the side holes. However, the hole will be positioned about 90 degrees relative to a zero degree vertical. In one embodiment, the top is flat, though other configurations are contemplated.

As used herein, the term “pocket” refers to each hole having fabric, mesh, a solid device, or the like, designed to catch and hold the tossed projectile. The pocket makes the projectile easy to retrieve and prevents arguments of which hole the projectile went through.

A number of different games can be played with the apparatus, such as keeping score using a point system assigned to each hole, accuracy scoring, holes in a certain order, and the like.

DRAWINGS

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing 2 sides of an embodiment, but having 4 sides total of the present invention. As mentioned above, there needs to be at least one side with a plurality of holes. This embodiment has 3 holes on each of the four sides. Each side is identical to the other sides, in this embodiment. Toss game target apparatus 1 has side 2, though there are four identical sides in this embodiment. Side 2, while it could be positioned completely upright (i.e., zero degrees), in this embodiment, the side tilts back by about 5 degrees. Side 2 has three vertically positioned holes 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c. In this view, the holes gradually increase in size from top to bottom with the lowest hole being the largest, but could all be the same size. Each hole has mesh pockets 5 for catching a ball or other projectile. In this view, projectile 7 is caught in the pocket of hole 3 c. A top platform 20, containing a hole is barely visible in this view. Also shown in FIG. 1 , is point scoring indicators 8.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing top platform 20 having a hole 23 with mesh pocket 5. It is noted that this hole is bigger than the other holes on each side of the apparatus. In this embodiment, it is noted, top platform 20 is flat.

FIG. 3 is a see-through perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention of FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown without the holes in order to show all the sides and the shape of toss game target apparatus 1. In this view, additional sides 30 and 31 can easily be seen, as well as the general shape of toss game target apparatus 1.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile comprising: a) a vertical upright frame having at least 1 side and a top; b) a plurality of vertically positioned holes on at least 1 side of the upright frame, wherein the holes are large enough to accept the tossed projectile; and c) at least one horizontally positioned hole on the top of the upright frame, wherein the hole is large enough to accept the tossed projectile.
 2. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the vertical upright frame has 4 sides.
 3. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the vertical upright frame is circular.
 4. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the holes are not all the same size.
 5. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the holes are round.
 6. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein there are 3 vertically positioned holes on each of at least 1 side.
 7. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is a mesh material.
 8. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein the sides tilt back from vertical no more than 25 degrees.
 9. The toss game target apparatus for use with a tossed projectile according to claim 1, wherein each of the vertically positioned holes and the hole on the top are fitted with a pocket to catch and hold the projectile. 